Stoops builds top defense at FSU

Maryland quarterback Shawn Petty, center, is tackled by Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner, left, and defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan for a loss in the second half of an NCAA college football game in College Park, Md., Saturday. Florida State won 41-14.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

Published: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 4:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 4:56 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops' goal is to become the third brother in college football's famed coaching family to lead his own program.

And as the leader of nation's top-ranked defense, his resume may be more sparkling than ever.

“Sure, I have aspirations to be a head coach someday,” Stoops, 45, said before the season back in August. “I'm just always trying to improve myself to be the best coach I can be.”

The opportunity could come sooner than later.

The year before Stoops' arrival, Florida State gave up 30 points and 434.6 yards a game. This year, 236.3 yards and 13.1 points a game and with some of the same players from that 2009 season.

“I know I'm more prepared right now than when I walked in the door,” said Stoops, who is wrapping up his third season with Fisher.

Whatever the future holds for Stoops, nothing will happen before the end of the season.

Before then, Stoops and the 10th-ranked Seminoles have some unfinished business — starting with Saturday's showdown with intrastate rival No. 6 Florida. After that is the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Dec. 1 and a bowl game.

The Gators (10-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) have managed a lone touchdown in successive losses to the Seminoles (10-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) the past two seasons, losing a shutout last year in Gainesville only because of a fourth quarter fumble deep in their own territory.

Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman said Stoops' personality and contacts as a member of college football's famed coaching family would also be valuable in selling his program and fund-raising for any school that might hire him.

“He's done an incredible job for us and works very well with coach (Jimbo) Fisher, very loyal,” Spetman said. “We obviously don't want to lose him.”

Florida State put a quick end to some postseason nibbling by other schools last winter by giving Stoops a six-figure pay increase.

Stoops said he's perfectly satisfied with his $550,000 coaching role providing Fisher with the nation's top defense at Florida State and sees no need to rush into just any old coaching position.

“I'm in a great situation here,” Stoops said. “I'm in a situation here where it's one of the top coordinating jobs in the country, we get great players.”

A bit of a gypsy along the way, Stoops' coaching resume includes several stops: South Florida, Wyoming, Houston before three seasons at Miami and then onto Arizona as defensive coordinator for brother Mike for six seasons.

Affable and enthusiastic — and somewhat of a fan himself — Stoops grew up in Youngstown, Ohio where his father was a high school coach. Older brother Bob Stoops has won a national title at Oklahoma where brother Mike Stoops is defensive coordinator.

Stoops' defense at Florida State seems loaded from the guys up front to the secondary and with little, if any, drop off when the backups are in. His players feed off Stoops' experience and instincts.

“I've been around coach Stoops so much, I know what he expects out of us,” middle linebacker Vince Williams said. “When he makes a call, I anticipate what he's thinking the offense is going to do.”

Although muzzled during the season by Fisher's policy that prohibits assistants from talking with the media, Stoops said he's learned a lot from the Florida State coach.

“It's always great to learn other things,” Stoops said. “There are some things I've learned here that I'll take with me the rest of my life.”

But, that said, Stoops wants to be a head coach and probably isn't going to have to wait much longer for an attractive opportunity. There are always vacancies in today's coaching world where seven-figure salaries lead to expectations of instant success in the fan base. Some schools, including a few in the neighboring Southeastern Conference, are already looking.

Fisher, who spent more than two decades as an assistant himself, knows he'll probably lose Stoops to another program, possibly at the end of this season.

<p>TALLAHASSEE — Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops' goal is to become the third brother in college football's famed coaching family to lead his own program. </p><p>And as the leader of nation's top-ranked defense, his resume may be more sparkling than ever. </p><p>“Sure, I have aspirations to be a head coach someday,” Stoops, 45, said before the season back in August. “I'm just always trying to improve myself to be the best coach I can be.”</p><p>The opportunity could come sooner than later. </p><p>The year before Stoops' arrival, Florida State gave up 30 points and 434.6 yards a game. This year, 236.3 yards and 13.1 points a game and with some of the same players from that 2009 season. </p><p>“I know I'm more prepared right now than when I walked in the door,” said Stoops, who is wrapping up his third season with Fisher. </p><p>Whatever the future holds for Stoops, nothing will happen before the end of the season. </p><p>Before then, Stoops and the 10th-ranked Seminoles have some unfinished business — starting with Saturday's showdown with intrastate rival No. 6 Florida. After that is the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Dec. 1 and a bowl game. </p><p>The Gators (10-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) have managed a lone touchdown in successive losses to the Seminoles (10-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) the past two seasons, losing a shutout last year in Gainesville only because of a fourth quarter fumble deep in their own territory. </p><p>Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman said Stoops' personality and contacts as a member of college football's famed coaching family would also be valuable in selling his program and fund-raising for any school that might hire him. </p><p>“He's done an incredible job for us and works very well with coach (Jimbo) Fisher, very loyal,” Spetman said. “We obviously don't want to lose him.”</p><p>Florida State put a quick end to some postseason nibbling by other schools last winter by giving Stoops a six-figure pay increase. </p><p>Stoops said he's perfectly satisfied with his $550,000 coaching role providing Fisher with the nation's top defense at Florida State and sees no need to rush into just any old coaching position. </p><p>“I'm in a great situation here,” Stoops said. “I'm in a situation here where it's one of the top coordinating jobs in the country, we get great players.”</p><p>A bit of a gypsy along the way, Stoops' coaching resume includes several stops: South Florida, Wyoming, Houston before three seasons at Miami and then onto Arizona as defensive coordinator for brother Mike for six seasons. </p><p>Affable and enthusiastic — and somewhat of a fan himself — Stoops grew up in Youngstown, Ohio where his father was a high school coach. Older brother Bob Stoops has won a national title at Oklahoma where brother Mike Stoops is defensive coordinator. </p><p>Stoops' defense at Florida State seems loaded from the guys up front to the secondary and with little, if any, drop off when the backups are in. His players feed off Stoops' experience and instincts. </p><p>“I've been around coach Stoops so much, I know what he expects out of us,” middle linebacker Vince Williams said. “When he makes a call, I anticipate what he's thinking the offense is going to do.”</p><p>Although muzzled during the season by Fisher's policy that prohibits assistants from talking with the media, Stoops said he's learned a lot from the Florida State coach. </p><p>“It's always great to learn other things,” Stoops said. “There are some things I've learned here that I'll take with me the rest of my life.”</p><p>But, that said, Stoops wants to be a head coach and probably isn't going to have to wait much longer for an attractive opportunity. There are always vacancies in today's coaching world where seven-figure salaries lead to expectations of instant success in the fan base. Some schools, including a few in the neighboring Southeastern Conference, are already looking. </p><p>Fisher, who spent more than two decades as an assistant himself, knows he'll probably lose Stoops to another program, possibly at the end of this season. </p><p>“He's earned that right,” Fisher said. “He's a heckuva coach.”</p>